Lesson 34 — Activity 2: Appealing to the Senses

You know that authors use images that relate to the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to describe characters, settings, and the events that occur in stories.

Some examples from the fairy tale “Cinderella” have been given below. Read the examples carefully so you understand how authors use the senses to create images.

 
Image courtesy of GettyImages

Imagery through the Senses	Examples from "Cinderella"
Sight What did the character see?	- In the kitchen, where Cinderella was sitting all by herself, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. - The pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the mice became six white horses, while the seventh mouse turned into a coachman, in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes.
Hearing What did the character hear?	- Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball, but, all of a sudden, she heard the sound of a clock: the first stroke of midnight!
Smell What did the character smell? (Not used as often as sight and hearing.)	- As Cinderella entered the ballroom, the aroma of fresh roses and other blooms and the delicious perfume of the other ladies rose to meet her.
Touch What did the character feel? (Usually related to weather but it could be something the character actually touches.)	- One day, beautiful, new dresses arrived at the house. Cinderella ran her fingers over the lace and sequins. How she wished for a gown like this!
Taste What did the character taste? (Not used very often.)	- Just before midnight, Cinderella and the prince enjoyed a supper of fragrant meats, vegetables, and other savories.

---